Improvement in potato-diggers



- L. A'NNIS.

Potato Digger. No. 85,418. 8 Patented Dec. 29, 1868.

N. PETERS, mlo-Umagnph-r, Wuhingmn, IM;A

' angle, the shank, d, ofthe forked digger D, the latter tenti (ltitite. te.

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'LEVI Anims; or QUrNoY, MICHIGAN.

Letters Patent No. 85,418,

dated December 29, 1868 The Schedule vreferred to in these Letters Iatent and making of the same.

To all whom it may concern vBe it known that I, LEVI Aunis, of Quincy, in the county of Branch, and State of Michigan, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Potato-Diggers and Cultivators, and that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l represents a top view ofthe potato-digger and cultivator.

Figure 2 represents a vertical section through the same.

Figure 3 represents a rear view of the same.

Similar letters of reference, where they occur in the drawings, denote like parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to an apparatus for digging potatoes, so constructed thatthe whole surface of the ground is well stirred up at the same time that the potatoes in the rows are brought to the surface, and constitutes, in this manner, al potato-digger and a cultivator, which leaves the ground in a fine'pulverized state, clear of weeds, and ready for the reception of seeds.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings.

A represents the frame, which is mounted on the axle a, the latter being supported by the wheels B.' This frame A is curved on its fore part like hounds, so as to embrace the tongue O, to which the team is attached. A hole, c, is out through the 'after part of the tongue O, into which is introduced, ata certain being kept in proper position by the wedge b.

To the tongue C is hung 4and pivoted, by means of the shaft e, the quam-'angular frame E, which carries with it the V-shaped harrow F.

This frame and harrow can be raised or lowered by the driver, from his seat G, by means of the lever f, which is pivoted to the standard g, and is attached, at one end, to the frame E by the connecting-bar h, while Y the other end ofthe lever j' is kept in the desired po'sition by its pin, j", resting-in one of the notches ofthe double rack t, the lower rack being intended to keep the harrow F oi the ground, when it'is not needed in light sandy soil, and the upper rack is to keep the lever j' raised, and, consequently the harrow F down 1n the ground to the required depth.

On the axle a, and attached toit, is placed, underthe drivers seat, the bevel-cog wheel H, which gears with the bevel-pinion I, the latter' being mounted on the shaft K, which is carried in bearings on two transverse pieces, k It', attached to the frame A.

This shaft K carries on its after end the crank-wheel L, which operates the connecting-rod M, attached to the arm N of the vibrating-digger N, giving the latter a rocking motion well calculated to stir the ground and bring to the surface any potatoes that might remain below the surface.

This digger N is constructed with two sets of adjustable rakes, N. Each` rake has one set of teeth set lengthwise of the machine and one set crosswise, or 'at right angles with tha first, the teeth of the latter being gradually shorter, so as to accommodate themselves to the rocking motion of the digger N.

The height of the rakes N is adjusted by means of the screws l passing throughthe slots m cut in the Shanks of the rakes N".

To get its rocking motion, the upper portion of the digger N is kept stationary by the pin a, around which it oscillates.

This pin a can be introduced in any of the holes, p, of the digger N, according to the depth required from the latter to operate to the best advantage. also be lifted clear of the ground by the lever (l), pivoted to the standard o, Vand engaging with the sliding bearingS, which carries 4the fulcrum-pin n.

'This sliding bearing S is kept in a vertical position by the frame A', which is attached to the cross-piece It of the frame A of the machine.'

Following the digger N, and attached to the machine by two arms, R', are two rakes, It, inclined toward each.

other, for the purpose of gathering in a ridge on the soil Jthepotatoes which have been unearthed by the machine. The arms, Rf, of these rakes 'are attached to the cross-shaft c, placed in suitable bearings, q, 'attached to the frame A.' To this cross-shaft lr is also attached the hand-lever Q, by whichmeans the ,'g'ath ering-rakes R can be lifted oli' the ground for transportation by engaging the lever Q under the catch t, or they might be folded over the machine when t the machine to crfrom the field.

The operation is as follows:

The machine being taken to theield, the digger D is inserted in the ground to the required depth, and wedged down to the tongue O. The after-digger or spreader N isv also set to the required depth by means of the pin u and holes p, or by the screws l passing `through the slots m, when, on starting the team, the

harrow F pulverizes the ground raised bythe digger D, which is stirred up and worked again by the roeking digger N, the operation being completed by the gathering-Takes It, which leave the potatoes to dry on the surface of the ground, in a convenient condition for gathering and carting off 'the eld. Havingv thus fully described my invention,

What I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with the forked digger, fixed in a rigid portion of the-tongue or trame, the swinging con- It can aking trollable'frame E. for caa'rying, behind the digger, the hai'rows F, substantially as and for the purpose described.

Also, the vibrating digger N, for shaking up the potaboes and pulverizing the soil, when made controllable bythe operator in his seat, and vibrated laterally of the path of the machine, by means substantially as described.

Also, in combination with the laterally-vibrating digger for shaking iip the potatoes and working the soil. the adjustable ,armsvll7 with their iuwardly-ineliued fakes, for gathering the potatoes into a r'ow, substantially as described. l

. LEVI ANNIS.

Witnesses:

' ISAAC D. TOLL,

OALVI'N MARBLE. 

